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This lesson examines forced migration — the movement of people who have no meaningful choice but to leave their homes. It covers the legal definitions of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons, analyses the world's major refugee crises, and evaluates the international response. This lesson addresses the Edexcel Enquiry Question: "What are the causes and consequences of international migration?"
The legal framework for protecting forced migrants was established after World War II and centres on the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. These instruments remain the foundation of international refugee law.
The 1951 Convention defines a refugee as a person who:
"owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."
Key points:
An asylum seeker is a person who has crossed an international border and applied for refugee status but whose claim has not yet been determined. Asylum seekers have the legal right to have their claim assessed. Not all asylum seekers are granted refugee status — some are found not to meet the Convention definition and may face deportation.
In the UK, the asylum process involves:
In 2023, the UK received approximately 84,000 asylum applications. The backlog of unprocessed claims exceeded 170,000, with average waiting times of over 12 months.
Internally displaced persons are people forced to flee their homes but who have not crossed an international border. IDPs are often in more desperate situations than refugees because they remain within the jurisdiction of a government that may be responsible for their displacement — or unable to protect them.
| Category | Crossed a Border? | Legal Protection | Approximate Number (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refugee | Yes | 1951 Convention; UNHCR mandate | 36 million |
| Asylum seeker | Yes (claim pending) | Right to have claim assessed | 6 million (pending claims) |
| IDP | No | UN Guiding Principles (non-binding) | 71 million |
| Stateless person | Varies | 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions | 4.4 million (known) |
Exam Tip: Always use the correct terminology in exam answers. "Refugee", "asylum seeker" and "migrant" are not interchangeable — each has a specific legal meaning. Using them correctly demonstrates understanding of the legal framework that underpins international responses to forced migration.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that by mid-2023, there were over 110 million forcibly displaced people worldwide — the highest figure ever recorded. This includes:
pie title Global Forcibly Displaced People (Mid-2023, millions)
"IDPs (62.5m)" : 62.5
"Refugees - UNHCR (36.4m)" : 36.4
"Asylum Seekers (6.1m)" : 6.1
"Palestine Refugees - UNRWA (5.9m)" : 5.9
The majority of refugees originate from a small number of countries suffering prolonged conflict:
| Country of Origin | Refugees Abroad | Main Cause | Main Host Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syria | 6.5 million | Civil war (since 2011) | Turkey (3.3m), Lebanon (0.8m), Jordan (0.7m), Germany (0.7m) |
| Ukraine | 6.3 million | Russian invasion (since 2022) | Poland (1.0m), Germany (1.1m), Czech Republic (0.5m) |
| Afghanistan | 6.1 million | Taliban takeover (2021), decades of conflict | Pakistan (1.7m), Iran (3.4m) |
| South Sudan | 2.3 million | Civil war (since 2013) | Uganda (0.9m), Sudan (0.8m), Ethiopia (0.4m) |
| Myanmar | 1.3 million | Military coup (2021), Rohingya persecution | Bangladesh (0.9m), Thailand, India |
A persistent misconception is that refugees primarily go to wealthy Western countries. In reality, 75% of refugees are hosted by low- and middle-income countries, and 70% are hosted by neighbouring countries:
Exam Tip: This fact — that developing countries bear the greatest burden of hosting refugees — is critical for evaluation. It undermines arguments by wealthier nations that they are "overwhelmed" by refugees. In a 20-mark essay, this point demonstrates strong evaluative skill.
The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, has produced one of the largest forced displacement crises since World War II.
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